Named a Top Influencer in the Bronx by City & State 2019
2019 Year-in-Review
I. Strengthened Our Community Land Trust - the Mott Haven-Port Morris Community Land Stewards
Pushing for H.E.ARTS, Partnering with Hester Street, & Getting Recognized by NYC Council
In 2019, South Bronx Unite helped advance the efforts of our local community land trust (CLT), the Mott Haven-Port Morris Community Land Stewards, which was formally recognized by the NYC Council this year. We partnered with Hester Street to detail an enhanced economic feasibility for H.E.ARTS, and we had several meetings with city officials to urge EDC to issue an RFP for the abandoned, city-owned building which we aim to convert into a community-owned asset for an action/education platform of health, education and the arts with offices, meeting areas, a culinary arts kitchen, classrooms and performance spaces. In September, we joined together for the 3rd Annual H.E.ARTS Festival with Taller Experimental de Arte, Colectivo Mujeres Trabajadoras por la Paz, Movimiento la Peña del Bronx, Pregones Theater, and Nos Quedamos for a celebration of art and activism and the official unveiling of the mural “WE HAVE A STORY TO TELL” by local artist, Virginia Ayress, followed by a handball court screening of The People's Detox" commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Young Lords.
Building Power in Place - Analyzing 23 Plans & Studies for Mott Haven from 1969-2018 and Documenting Un/Under-Utilized Real Property for the CLT
In 2019, we worked closely with a team of Design Trust Fellows (including SBU's Monxo López) in fields of mapping, community planning, and participatory design, to undertake extensive research and analysis of 23 plans and studies for the Mott Haven–Port Morris area. We documented each plan's background, purpose, method, level of community engagement (or lack thereof) and outcome. We also began identifying and documenting the un/under-utilized real property in our neighborhood to begin building a road map for deeply affordable housing, co-housing, cultural spaces and green spaces to be stewarded by our CLT. We also built solar power capacity in two local green spaces - Brook Park and María Solá.
Stewarding Local Green Spaces - Bringing Solar Energy to Brook Park and María Solá
II. Completed the 2.5 Year Study on FreshDirect's Impact on Air Quality
Since May 2017, South Bronx Unite has been collaborating with Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, among others, to measure black carbon, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and noise before and after the opening of the $150 million city- and state-subsidized relocation of FreshDirect and its diesel trucking operation to Mott Haven. We now have the results! On January 18, 2020, we will discuss the summary of our findings and will launch a new citizen scientist project to build and operate mobile air quality monitoring devices to further build the case for mitigation of our community's asthma crisis. If you haven't yet RSVPd for the event on Jan 18, do so now.
III. Collaborated Broadly
Throughout 2019, we engaged in a broad range of partnerships with over a dozen universities and organizations. We engaged young journalists and educated masters students on issues of gentrification and environmental justice. We led workshops on community land trusts and participated in panels on economic inequality, reparations, community-led urban planning, and the Green New Deal. Our collaborations armed us with a full collection of educational tools - including a zine, children's books, maps and architectural plans.
UPenn Takeover Typologies Zine - 1970's Young Lord Landmarks
UPenn Takeover Typologies Zine - Now: 2019
Rutgers Story Strips
IV. We Fought FOR Marco & We Fought AGAINST New Jails (Anywhere)
